The breakthrough from Qi Condensation into Foundation Establishment involved three steps.

The first step was sending accumulated spirit power exploding into one’s body to search for dharma apertures and memorize their location. The most important aspect during this time was the total number of dharma apertures found. The step could be repeated as many times as necessary, and Foundation Establishment Pills helped during it. Usually, this part took up about half of the total breakthrough time. The second step was to converge one’s spirit sea, use it to batter the first dharma aperture, and ultimately open it. After enough spirit power was poured into the opened dharma aperture, then the cultivator’s first batch of dharma force would result. When the dharma force was unleashed, it would fill the cultivator, transforming their flesh and blood, and increasing their life level. That was the third step in the process.

When all three steps were complete, the cultivator was officially in Foundation Establishment....